Landlords/ Property Managers – Handling Water Damage
When a rental faces water damage it is essential that you handle it properly. Moisture is your #1 enemy. Your tenant may be your #2 enemy, especially if the water damage creates mold as a result of your inaction.
We offer full service water mitigation and structural drying and work with most insurers. If you are going to file an insurance claim, it is very important to use a certified and experienced water mitigation contractor.
A mistake often made by property managers is to handle water losses in house, or utilize the services of their plumber or handyman. Without the tools or experience, a worker will often leave wet and damaged materials. This significantly increases liability for the Leaser. When insurance is involved, the insurers are reluctant to pay for work done by someone that is not certified, and will question whether it was necessary. This could potentially lead to claim denial.
A good mitigation contractor will take moisture and psychometric readings, possibly take infrared pictures of the damage, and will document conditions with pictures and notes. All of this is provided to the insurer to justify the required demolition, drying, and reconstruction. Without this documentation it is much more difficult to get the insurer to pay a fair amount on the claim. In addition, you may be leaving damage that is unknown to you and could result in future costs that won’t be covered by your insurer.
Filing a Claim: What you should know
We understand that not all water damage jobs require a specialist. It often is cost prohibitive to pay for a water mitigation contractor for very small water damage jobs. It is however essential that you take action. If the water damage is affecting multiple rooms or is affecting the ceiling, walls, and floor of one room; you should consult a water mitigation professional. For all other jobs, you may be able to seek the assistance of a carpet cleaner with an extractor and some drying equipment. Below is a link to procedures that should be taken for water mitigation. We strongly recommend that you follow these guidelines if you are not seeking the service of an experienced professional.
Procedures for Water Damage Mitigation
A small leak in a bathroom vanity can require a full gut of your bathroom if left for years. This is why regular inspections of your property is essential to prevent costly damage. A casual walkthrough is typically a waste of time and gives you a false sense of security. Click below for an inspection checklist for annual property inspections:
Mold/Moisture Inspection Checklist for Landlords
Mold/Moisture Inspection Checklists for Tenants
Renting a property in good condition can typically reduce the amount of expense that will be required with a turn-over. If you experience a significant water loss, your insurer will typically pay to replace older materials that got wet with new. Many insurers also provide loss of rent coverage to reimburse for being unable to collect rent on the property while it is getting repaired. Water losses should always be handled adequately, and when involving insurance can often result in an upgraded unit with very little cost to the owner. If left unaddressed, it is near impossible to get insurance coverage and will ultimately lead to lost rent and possible lawsuits.
If you have a water damage emergency, call us at (530) 583-6653 -24/7
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